I would never post this in the Blink thread lol but after hearing these videos this is the first time in a long time that I wouldn't be opposed to him coming back eventually
I've been playing some AVA on guitar for fun lately, and that chorus riff in "Sirens" is probably the most underappreciated and "complex" guitar line Tom has ever done.
"Kiss & Tell" is legitimately so fucking good, like top 20 AVA material - perfect fusion of the poppier Dream Walker sound with the full-band feeling of the earlier albums it's also gotten me into "Rebel Girl" a bit more, still don't love it but it's a pretty good single all things considered
I'm still legitimately baffled/dissappinted that Secret Crowds isn't on the setlist, because it was lyrically pretty much the mission statement for the band, and one of my favorite songs ever, but what can ya do about it?
I'm very relieved "Secret Crowds" wasn't on the setlist and wish he would've axed "Everything's Magic" too but I know that's not realistic
as for "Secret Crowds" i think he just can't sing it anymore. at the very least it strains his voice way too much for it to be sustainable over time. several high notes in it. can't think of any other reason to put, like, "Moon as my Witness" or something on a 20-song setlist and not their third (?) most well known song.
Might as well throw mine in there, too- I can’t stand Heaven and the encore set for this tour is disappointing. I’m the worst.
gotta add "Surrender" to my retirement list, what a weak ass song. also Tom sounds horrible on the other hand this is genuinely one of his best performances ever
not to dunk on "Crowds" overmuch, but that's always been one of his worst vocal performances tbh. like he sounds like a mewling cat on the studio version, it's just not good I like "Surrender" and "The Adventure" though :/ like I can see them not being the best live but I'll defend the originals any day. once "Surrender" loses that trash pre-chorus and explores into the main hook it's glorious
i don't even remember what it sounds like, ha. but it's definitely one of their least well-known or requested songs.
it's worth a re-listen! and I know what you mean, but I'm loving that deep cuts/fan favourites (at least in my circles haha) like that and "KWAS", "Overload" and so on are making the setlist for this. compared to blink's setlists now which seem to be written by a computer algorithm (complete with prepackaged Mark banger from like 2000!), AVA's new tour has some genuine surprise and heart in it
i'd just rather have stuff like "Mercenaries", "Epic Holiday" or "Lifeline", which was a staple back in the day and also a highlight of the show - fucking criminal of them to drop it - but i can't be too mad at the setlist with all these deep cuts, even if they're not my favorites. on variety alone, they're miles ahead of what blink has been doing forever. love that they're opening with "Overload".
My potentially hot take is The Adventure is musically one of the best things Tom's ever written (not necessarily lyrically lol)
The Adventure was a highlight when I saw them last night Surprisingly the mix was the weakest aspect of the show and not Tom’s voice
I'd be down for the criminally underrated "Mercenaries" or "Lifeline" for sure, I'd just drop something else (like "Everything's Magic") for them instead lol. he's already playing a bunch of deep cuts this tour may as well lean all the way into it. "Epic Holiday" is... fine, I don't love it but I can see it being a lot of fun live anyway I just really want "Tunnels", that shit might be my favourite AVA song. I mean those 'DREAM OF IT' backing vocals, those are like gospel AVA, or something? I don't know how to word it but that song does things to me